HOTUN NEWS - MANCUNIAN HISTORY IS STILL COOKING WITH MERTZ!

Cuthbert and Mrs Cuthbert were delighted to be invited to meet Paul Mertz and Peter O'Grady who had emailed itsahotun with the news that Paul is Arthur Mertz Snr's grandson! Arthur Snr helped John E Blakeley found the Studio and co-wrote many of the films with him. His sons, Arthur Jnr and John worked at the Dickinson Road studios.

Paul is the Market Restaurant's top foodwiz - not showbiz!! Paul and Peter provide a fantastic dining experience and whenever you're in town, don't miss the chance to go!

104 High Street Manchester. M4 1HQ - Tel: 0161 834 3743

* The lights in the following newspaper cutting titled ‘Ready to Shoot’ & ‘Manchester Opens Film Studio-in Ex Chapel’ were made by my Great Grandfather's film lighting company Multiple HD Industries Ltd and were branded ‘Hewitt Universal’ ... they were made from the 1920s until 1959. I believe that the microphone boom in one of the shots is one of ours too ...

Jules also has spotted another picture on the Hotun site - to visit click on the link below -

The lights can also be seen in the photograph of Winifred Atwell on the set of ‘It’s a Grand Life’ at the Dickinson Road Studio - the three lights facing the photographer are in fact the older style ones ...

"Although we supplied a lot of studios, including Elstree, Pinewood and Bray, I have not seen them in action before," writes Jules - and she has also expressly asked if any Hotun visitors know where other examples of Hewitt Universal lighting may be found, especially 'Compact Source' lamps. If you know anything then please get in touch with Cuthbert by email straight away and we'll pass the info on to her.

John E Blakeley at work - Slapstick King article in full below

More on John E Blakeley - HOLLYWOOD OF THE NORTH is coined - and John E is "JB" in this article by Paul Cave